<p>I do not believe there is a single college or university in the country that would not take that student if he were a sufficiently high impact recruited varsity athlete.</p>
<p>The average SATs for the football teams at the major Div I schools (and I’m including some very well regarded academic schools like a Notre Dame, USC, etc.) is in the 850 to 900 range.</p>
<p>For parents or students who object to the admission of very low-stat athletes, especially at elite academic schools, I would suggest looking at schools that do not have football, ice hockey, or NCAA Div I Championship caliber basketball programs. These are the sports that require low-stat admits to be competitive.</p>
<p>Interesteddad, you went to Williams. How good are the basketball and baseball players at Williams? Do I have to be MVP of a decent league in high school? A first team all league? Best player on a team, but not all league? </p>
<p>It sure is easier to figure this out for individual sports. You shoot par golf, many schools want you.</p>
<p>“Having said that, I can’t name a single college that doesn’t recruit and admit some athletes who are significantly below average for the school and who never in their wildest dreams would have gotten accepted on the basis of academic qualifications. Significantly below average might be 1150 SATs for an Ivy or a top LAC or it might be 750 SATs for a big Division I school. Each school sets their own bar at just how low they will go; some higher than others.”</p>
<p>I personally know an athlete - specifically a non-URM woman gymnast in my daughter’s gym – who was heavily recruited and awarded a full scholarship - tuition, plus room and board, plus travel, plus “allowance” to a Div. I school which is top 20 in the sport (and the third best private university for women’s gymnastics in the country) - provide she could get her SATs above 700 - as in total 700. So far, the woman hasn’t been able to do it, and is spending this year at the community college. Should she complete the year, she will likely be admitted as a “transfer”, without the need for the required SAT score.</p>
<p>The university I’m speaking of is very fine indeed. We are hoping she makes it. If she does, she will be staying in an athletic dorm, with close monitoring of her academics,. Tutors and advisors will be provided. This school has a fine track record of graduating its athletes. And who isn’t to say that this woman, with her sub-700 SAT score, will not benefit greatly, from both the degree and the experience?</p>
<p>I agree with interesteddad, a 1300 SAT and great ability puts a kid in admissable range anywhere. Few schools have median SATs higher than about 1450; 150 points off median is not a massive difference.</p>
<p>And I had no idea some kids only need a SAT score of 700–total, to get into a top school. I’m not a huge believer in SAT scores as some great predictor, but 700? Can this girl read?</p>
<p>Not very well. But graduated from high school - as much an indictment of the schools as of her. (Granted - she’s not too swift, but you should see her on a high bar! And so? If she gets herself a degree, say, in exercise science, ends up working at and owning her own gym, helping dozens of other girls go for their dreams, what’s so terrible? I’ve known lots of Ivy grads and the like - don’t mean to pick on them - who’ve done much worse, for themselves, and for their communities. And, sometimes, things “click” later for some people.)</p>
<p>Dstark, I’d encourage a visit to Trinity. I visited twice over the last year, and I really didn’t think the surrounding neighborhood was all that bad.</p>
<p>Well, you asked for Williams clones, with sports culture, but academically a bit easier. Trinity is the top pick meeting that description. You’ve really covered the rest already. Colgate is the other name that usually comes up in such a discussion. There are also good baseball players at Pomona, but it won’t be easier than Williams. And sports is not a big part of the culture. Hey, my freshman roommate at Williams ended up playing baseball at Vassar (and loved it!)</p>
<p>jrpar, yeah, but your kid chose Colgate. I have heard the surroundings around Colgate are beautiful. I think my friend’s kid would choose Colgate too, if it had a baseball team.</p>
<p>I really liked the schools you mentioned earlier. Which school, with a baseball team and beautiful surroundings did you like best (Not Williams)? Why?</p>
<p>Colgate and baseball? Heck it don’t stop snowing up there until June. College season usually starts in the middle of February. No wonder they don’t have baseball.</p>
<p>Try Emory or Hopkins if you want top notch DIII baseball and top-notch academics. Hopkins baseball team coul put a whoppin’ on a lot of DI programs.</p>
<p>Williams would be MY first choice - but it wasn’t my son’s. In part I think he really wanted his own school (I guess I brought him to too many football games and reunions!), but he also liked the campus vibe of Colgate better. </p>
<p>I did like Trinity when we visited. The surrounding neighborhood is much better than it was back in my college days, but I think that the old reputation survives. That’s why I encourage a visit. Trinity has a good relationship with the surrounding community; there is real commitment to community service on campus that my son found appealing. Very athletic student body.</p>
<p>We both liked Colby (Div III baseball). Bucknell too (Div I). Wash U has a pretty campus and good Div III teams. Hamilton has a baseball team. Middlebury has a baseball team. Both beautiful campuses in rural settings; lots of kids playing varsity sports at both schools.</p>
<p>Emory is another Div III school with good athletics; I don’t think of the campus as “rah-rah” though. My son’s best friend will be going there next year and playing a sport. I hear the campus is gorgeous.</p>
<p>I think Colgate doesn’t have a baseball team because of Title IX issues (they did have a team many years ago). Hamilton is 20 minutes northeast and they have a baseball team! And the spring isn’t any longer at Williams or Middlebury (Williams plays a bunch of games over their two week March vacation in Florida).</p>
<p>We were at Colgate this weekend - they were playing outdoor lacrosse games on a completely cleared turf field. BRRRRRR. Not a great spectator event.</p>
<p>Dstark - one more school I left off: Tufts has a Div III baseball program. While Medford isn’t pretty, the Boston location is appealing. My son liked this school too.</p>
<p>jrpar, I will put Tufts on the list. ( I am seeing the family at the end of the week).
I guess I will have to put Johns Hopkins on the list; although I was enjoying pi**ing jmmom off. She might be right.</p>
<p>You mentioned Hamilton. How does that school compare to Colgate? (I know the family likes Colgate).</p>
[quote]
Interesteddad, you went to Williams. How good are the basketball and baseball players at Williams? [\quote]</p>
<p>I have no idea. With the huge number of competitive Div I basketball programs trying to hire…er, I mean, recruit…talent, I doubt that Williams is able to go after the creme of the crop. I know nothing about college baseball.</p>
<p>I did notice that Willams tennis players are ranked in the 30’s and 40’s nationally, which strikes me as quite high given the Div I options.</p>
<p>Gonzaga University (Spokane) has a very good baseball team, and as you might know, a decent basketball team. It’s D1 (no football) with good academics. Several of our high school’s baseball players have played there. 4000 ug, 6000 total students. Fall 2004 mid 50% info: GPA 3.4-3.9, SAT 1080-1280. 13% from California.</p>